HemeLabNotes https://hemelabnotes.com/ Practical hematology notes, patterns, and verification from the bench. en-US Thu, 12 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Measurement Uncertainty in Haematology: How Certain Is Your CBC Result? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/measurement-uncertainty-in-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/measurement-uncertainty-in-haematology/ Thu, 12 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Understanding measurement uncertainty in haematology: IQC lot pooling, HGB uncertainty budgets, allowable uncertainty and low platelet counts. Delta Checks in Haematology: When a Result Changes Too Much https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/delta-checks-in-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/delta-checks-in-haematology/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Recognise unexpected CBC changes, investigate specimen problems and genuine clinical changes, and decide what can safely be reported. Analytical Performance Specifications in Haematology: How Much Error Is Acceptable? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/analytical-performance-specifications-in-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/analytical-performance-specifications-in-haematology/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT How analytical performance specifications connect precision, bias, Milan models and clinical acceptance decisions in haematology. Method Comparison in Haematology: Why Correlation Is Not Enough https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/method-comparison-in-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/method-comparison-in-haematology/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT How to interpret correlation, regression, bias and Bland–Altman agreement in haematology method comparisons. External Quality Assessment in Haematology: When a Passing Score Is Not Enough https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/external-quality-assessment-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/external-quality-assessment-haematology/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Learn how to interpret haematology EQA and PT results, peer-group agreement, trueness, commutability, and passing scores that still warrant review. Lot-to-Lot Verification in Haematology: Did the New Reagent Lot Change Patient Results? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/lot-to-lot-verification-in-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/lot-to-lot-verification-in-haematology/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Explore reagent lot verification in haematology, patient-sample comparisons, critical differences, detection power, and independent clinical acceptance decisions. Patient-Based Quality Control in Haematology: What Can a Moving Average Really Tell Us? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/patient-based-quality-control-in-haematology/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/patient-based-quality-control-in-haematology/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Explore patient-based quality control in haematology, Bull's X̄B, moving averages, red-cell indices, patient population effects and practical analytical troubleshooting. Shift, Trend and Drift in Haematology QC: What Is the Pattern Telling Us? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/shift-trend-and-drift-in-haematology-qc/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/shift-trend-and-drift-in-haematology-qc/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Recognise HGB shifts, MCV trends and suspected PLT drift; investigate control material, patient evidence and risk before deciding how to respond. Westgard Rules in Practice: When Should We Stop and Investigate? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/westgard-rules-in-practice/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/westgard-rules-in-practice/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Understand Westgard warning and rejection rules, three-level haematology QC, investigation, corrective action and patient-result look-back. Reading the Levey–Jennings Chart: When QC Starts Telling a Story https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/reading-the-levey-jennings-chart/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/reading-the-levey-jennings-chart/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Read Levey–Jennings charts using established mean and SD, a ten-run HGB example, and the distinction between QC patterns and rule-based decisions. Understanding Mean, SD and CV: Reading QC Beyond the Numbers https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/understanding-mean-sd-cv/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/understanding-mean-sd-cv/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Learn how mean, standard deviation and CV describe haematology QC performance, with HGB and PLT examples, statistical control limits and practical interpretation. Quality Control in Haematology: What Does a Passing QC Really Tell Us? https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/what-does-a-passing-qc-tell-us/ https://hemelabnotes.com/quality-control/what-does-a-passing-qc-tell-us/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Understand what passing internal QC can and cannot prove, including precision, bias, control levels, reagent lot verification and patient-based monitoring in haematology. Cold Agglutination on the CBC: When the Numbers Stop Agreeing https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/cold-agglutination-cbc-when-numbers-stop-agreeing/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/cold-agglutination-cbc-when-numbers-stop-agreeing/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Learn to recognise cold agglutination on the CBC, investigate increased MCHC, distinguish agglutination from rouleaux, and verify results before reporting. HbH Disease: When Microcytosis Is More Than Alpha-Thalassemia Trait https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/hbh-disease-microcytosis-alpha-thalassemia-trait/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/hbh-disease-microcytosis-alpha-thalassemia-trait/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Recognize HbH disease through CBC patterns, reticulocytes, blood film morphology, brilliant cresyl blue inclusions, hemoglobin analysis, and alpha-globin genetics. HbE on Hemoglobin Analysis: Why the Method Changes What You See https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/hbe-on-hemoglobin-analysis-why-the-method-changes-what-you-see/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/hbe-on-hemoglobin-analysis-why-the-method-changes-what-you-see/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT How CBC findings, HbE percentage, HbA, HbF, iron status, and analytical method help separate simple HbE trait from more complex patterns. Alpha-Thalassemia Trait: When the CBC Suggests More Than the Hemoglobin Analysis https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/alpha-thalassemia-trait-when-the-cbc-suggests-more-than-the-hemoglobin-analysis/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/alpha-thalassemia-trait-when-the-cbc-suggests-more-than-the-hemoglobin-analysis/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT How persistent microcytosis, RBC count, iron studies, previous results, and molecular testing help when routine hemoglobin analysis looks normal. Hemoglobin Analysis in Microcytosis: What Does HbA₂ Actually Tell You? https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/hemoglobin-analysis-in-microcytosis-what-does-hba2-actually-tell-you/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/hemoglobin-analysis-in-microcytosis-what-does-hba2-actually-tell-you/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT How HbA₂, HbF, iron status, red-cell indices, and method-related pitfalls help interpret a microcytic pattern. Thalassemia Trait on the CBC: When Microcytosis Does Not Fit Iron Deficiency https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/thalassemia-trait-on-the-cbc-when-microcytosis-does-not-fit-iron-deficiency/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/thalassemia-trait-on-the-cbc-when-microcytosis-does-not-fit-iron-deficiency/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT How RBC count, RDW, iron studies, previous results, and the blood film can point toward a thalassemia-type pattern — without turning screening clues into a diagnosis. Peripheral Blood Film in Microcytosis: What Does the Morphology Add? https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/peripheral-blood-film-in-microcytosis-what-does-the-morphology-add/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/peripheral-blood-film-in-microcytosis-what-does-the-morphology-add/ Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT A practical laboratory approach to using red-cell morphology alongside the CBC, iron studies, previous results, and clinical context. Iron Studies in Microcytosis: Do They Fit the Pattern? https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/iron-studies-in-microcytosis-do-they-fit-the-pattern/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/iron-studies-in-microcytosis-do-they-fit-the-pattern/ Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ferritin matters. But the panel — and the context — matter more. RBC Count in Microcytosis: A Useful Clue, Not a Diagnosis https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/rbc-count-in-microcytosis-a-useful-clue-not-a-diagnosis/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/rbc-count-in-microcytosis-a-useful-clue-not-a-diagnosis/ Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT How RBC count changes the interpretation of microcytosis when read with MCV, RDW, hemoglobin, previous results, iron studies, and morphology. Microcytic Anemia: How I Read the Pattern https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/microcytic-anemia-how-i-read-the-pattern/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/microcytic-anemia-how-i-read-the-pattern/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT A practical laboratory approach to microcytic anemia using hemoglobin, MCV, RDW, RBC count, previous results, iron studies, analyzer information, and the blood film. RDW Shows the Variation, Not the Cause https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/rdw-shows-the-variation-not-the-cause/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/rdw-shows-the-variation-not-the-cause/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT A practical laboratory guide to RDW interpretation, including MCV and RDW patterns, anisocytosis, iron deficiency, mixed red-cell populations, transfusion, reticulocytosis, RDW-CV and RDW-SD. Low Platelet Count: Is It Real? https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/low-platelet-count-is-it-real/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/low-platelet-count-is-it-real/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT A practical laboratory approach to an unexpected low platelet count, including platelet clumping, pseudothrombocytopenia, giant platelets, analyzer flags, blood film review, and technical verification. MCV Gives Direction, Not a Diagnosis https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/mcv-gives-direction-not-diagnosis/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/mcv-gives-direction-not-diagnosis/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT A practical laboratory approach to MCV interpretation, including microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic patterns, RDW, RBC count, blood loss, reticulocytes and mixed red-cell populations. Complete Blood Count (CBC) Interpretation: A Practical Guide https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/cbc-interpretation-practical-guide/ https://hemelabnotes.com/hematology/cbc-interpretation-practical-guide/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT A bench-first way to read the CBC as a connected pattern, decide what needs verification, and avoid being led by flags alone.